The new Ford Edge has an inviting cabin with lots of soft touch surfaces.FAST FACTS
* Model: 2015 Ford Edge Sport* Exterior color: White Platinum Metal Tri-coat* Interior color: Ebony Perforated Suede* Engine: 2.7-liter V-6* Horsepower: 315* Transmission: Six-speed automatic* Fuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 18 mpg city* Dealer: Mountain View Ford* Price (as tested): $44,885
Five passenger SUVs sometimes fall through the cracks - squeezed between the popularity of three-row crossovers and compact utility vehicles.
Actually, a five-passenger crossover is often ideal for folks who want the driving dynamics of a mid-size sedan but seldom, if ever, need to haul seven people. Does it really make sense to purchase that third row of seats if you only plan to use it one percent of the time?
Ford has upped the ante in the five-passenger crossover segment with its redesigned 2015 Ford Edge. The Blue Oval company took a winning formula, refined it, recalibrated its engine options and rolled it back onto the market. Toyota has discontinued its Venza, which bears a striking resemblance to the Edge - a move that may push some buyers to Ford.
Our tester this week, an Edge in top-of-the-line Sport trim, is provided by Doug Cawood, sales manager at Mountain View Ford. Cawood says the new body style, which features a bolder shape with more character lines in the silhouette, is really turning heads. Our tester has a sticker price of $44,885 and comes equipped with many of the luxury and safety features one would expect from Ford's luxury brand, Lincoln. It makes us wonder how the new 2016 Lincoln MKX mid-size utility vehicle ($39,025), now in the pipeline, will top the Edge.
The Edge line-up includes four trim levels, SE ($28,100 before options), SEL ($31,500), Titanium ($35,600) and Sport ($38,000). Three engine variants are also available, a turbo-charged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 3.5-liter V-6 and the 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6 which boasts a whopping 315 horsepower and a tire-scorching 350 pound-feet of torque.
The government says our tester will get 21 mpg in combined driving (27 mpg city and 18 mpg highway).
Other competitors in the five-passenger, mid-size utility class include the Nissan Murano and Jeep Cherokee.
STYLING AND COMFORT
The second-generation Edge is a much more interesting vehicle to look at than its predecessor, which was a bit on the boxy side. The new Edge has sculpted bodywork and sexy curves like the smaller Ford Escape SUV. Its exterior dimensions and wide stance hint at the vast amounts of shoulder and hip room inside.
Our luminescent White tester is particularly striking when accented by a black grille, two-tone silver-and-black wheels, and panoramic sun-roof which adds a shimmering black lid to the whole package. Inside, our Edge Sport has attractive Ebony perforated leather and suede seats. Front seat ventilation was one of our Edge's options and the derriere coolers were much appreciated on a recent 95-degree Chattanooga day.
Standard on our Edge Sport are 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, LED turn signals, an ambient interior light package, 10-way power driver's seat and the leather seat trim. Our tester also has a $3,700 equipment group that includes lots of high-tech safety features such as blind spot monitoring, remote start and lane departure warning.
A massive panoramic sunroof is a $1,595 option, and the glistening white metallic paint adds $595 to the bottom line.
The inside of the Edge is comfortable and filled with soft-touch surfaces that make it feel like a rolling leather sectional. Seats are well bolstered, but with enough cushioning to be comfortable on long trips.
PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
The new Edge is a big vehicle - four-inches longer than the first-generation model - but handles much like a slightly raised Fusion sedan. The big, 20-inch wheels sharpen steering response, and the potent turbocharged V-6 delivers power on demand.
On our test drive on I-75 in mid-afternoon traffic, the Edge offered a spirited driving experience with plenty of energy to weave through slower traffic. Its blind-spot monitors, which are showing up on more and more sub-luxury vehicles, are particularly helpful in moderate to heavy traffic. Once or twice, when I forgot to signal a lane change, the Edge gave me a little nudge to make sure I wasn't asleep at the wheel and actually intended to change direction.
The 2.7-liter engine has a lusty exhaust note that injects an element of sportiness into a vehicle that was otherwise designed to showcase A practical pedigree.
BOTTOM LINE
If you value car-like manners in and SUV and have a family of four (or five) the Ford Edge is a good choice. The refinements and engine choices available in the latest redesign make the second-generation Edge an even more compelling value.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.